Gas discharge display and memory panel with magnesium oxide coatings

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least one dielectric charge storage member, the gaseous medium contacting surface portion of the dielectric member consisting of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device. The dielectric member can consist of magnesium oxide or it can be coated with a continuous or discontinuous layer of magnesium oxide.

Ernsthausen et a1.

{ GAS DISCHARGE DISPLAY AND MEMORY PANEL WITH MAGNESIUM OXIDE COATINGS [75] Inventors: Roger E. Ernsthausen, Luckey:

Bernard W. Byrum, Jr., Toledo, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, 1nc., Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 300,141

Related 1.1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 76,229, Sept. 28,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 313/201, 313/188, 313/220,

[51] Int. Cl. H0lj 65/04 [58] Field of Search 315/169 TV, 169 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,103,227 12/1937 Druyvesteyn et a1. 313/221 2,104,073 1/1938 Druyvesteyn et a1. 313/221 2,141,905 12/1938 Fonda et a1 313/201 X 2,171,227 8/1939 Schreinemachers.... 250/174 2,249,672 7/1941 Spanner 176/126 2,295,626 9/1942 Beese 176/122 2,802,127 8/1957 Dobischek et a1 313/103 2,806,970 9/1957 Meister et a1 313/109 2,922,906 l/l960 Day ct a1. 313/65 2,922,907 1/1960 Hannam 313/68 2,933,648 4/1960 Bentley 315/169 3,184,636 5/1965 Dore et a1... 315/94 3,236,686 2/1966 Schaefer 117/222 3,242,374 3/1966 Firth 313/346 3,350,598 10/1967 Corbin et al.... 313/220 3,377,494 4/1968 Repsher 313/109 3,499,167 3/1970 Baker et a1. 315/169 TV 3,513,327 5/1970 Johnson 315/169 TV 3,559,190 l/l97l Bitzer et a1 315/169 TV [111 3,863,089 1 1 Jan. 28, 1975 3,599,029 8/1971 Martyny 313/220 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS 1,038,245 9/1953 France 1,168,460 10/1969 Great Britain 1,209,657 l/l966 Germany OTHER PUBLICATIONS Bitzer et al., Principles and Applications of Plasma Display Panel," Proc. 1968 Microelectronics Symposium, lEEE, 6-68. Graf, Modern Dictionary of Electronics, Howard W. Sams Co., Pub., Indianapolis, 1968, page 287, definition of magnesium." Holland, Vacuum Deposition of Thin Films, Chapman & Hall, London, 1961, p. 460. Bitzer et al., Plasma Display Panel Proc. Fall Joint Computer Conference, San Francisco, Nov. 1966. Bitzer et al., The Plasma Display Panel Conf. on Emerging Concepts in Computer Graphics, U. of 111., 11-67. Arora et a1., Plasma Display Panel Proc. 8th National Symposium of S.1.D., May 1967.

Primary Examiner-Rudolph V. Rolinec Assistant ExaminerWilliam D..Larkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald Keith Wedding, E. .1. Holler [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least one dielectric charge storage member, the gaseous medium contacting surface portion of the dielectric member consisting of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device. The dielectric member can consist of magnesium oxide or it can be coated with a continuous or discontinuous layer of magnesium oxide.

21 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED JANZBIHTS SHEET 20F 2 GAS DISCHARGE DISPLAY AND MEMORY PANEL WITI-I MAGNESIUM OXIDE COATINGS RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of US. Pat. application SerfNo. 76,229, filed Sept. 28, l970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gas discharge devices, expecially multiple gas discharge display/memory devices which have an electrical memory and which are capable of producing a visual display or representation of data such as numerals, letters, radar displays, aircraft displays, binary words, educational displays, etc.

Multiple gas discharge display and/or memory panels of one particular type with which the present invention is concerned are characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium, usually a mixture of at least two gases at an appropriate gas pressure, in a thin gas chamber or space between a pair of opposed dielectric charge storage members which are backed by conductor (electrode) members, the conductor members backing each dielectric member typically being appropriately oriented so as to define a plurality of discrete gas discharge units or cells.

In some prior art panels the discharge cells are additionally defined by surrounding or confining physical structure such as apertures in perforated glass plates and the like so as to by physically isolated relative to other cells. In either case, with or without the confining physical structure, charges (electrons, ions) produced upon ionization of the elemental gas volume of a selected discharge cell, when proper alternating operating potentials are applied to selected conductors thereof, are collected upon the surfaces of the dielectric at specifically defined locations and constitute an electrical field opposing the electrical field which created them so as to terminate the discharge for the remainder of the half cycle and aid in the initiation of a discharge on a succeeding opposite half cycle of applied voltage, such charges as are stored constituting an electrical memory.

Thus, the dielectric layers prevent the passage of substantial conductive current from the conductor members to the gaseous medium and also serve as collecting surfaces for ionized gaseous medium charges (electrons, ions) during the alternate half cycles of the AC. operating potentials, such charges collecting first on one elemental or discrete dielectric surface area on alternate half cycles to constitute an electrical memory.

An example of a panel structure containing nonphysically isolated or open discharge cells is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,499,167 issued to Theodore C. Baker, et al.

An example of a panel containing physically isolated cells is disclosed in the article by D. L. Bitzer and H. G. Slottow entitled The Plasma Display Panel -A Digitally Addressable Display With Inherent Memory, Proceeding of the fall Joint Computer Conference, IEEE, San Francisco, California, Nov. 1966, pages 541-547. Also reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,559,190.

In the construction of the panel, a continuous volume of ionizable gas is confined between a pair of dielectric surfaces backed by conductor arrays typically forming matrix elements. The cross conductor arrays may be orthogonally related (but any other configuration of conductor arrays may be used) to define a plurality of opposed pairs of charge storage areas on the surfaces of the dielectric bounding or confining the gas. Thus, for a conductor matrix having H rows and C columns the number of elemental or discrete areas will be twice the number of such elemental dicharge cells.

In addition, the panel may comprise a so-called monolithic structure in which the conductor arrays are created on a single substrate and wherein two or more arrays are separated from each other and from the gaseous medium by at least one insulating member. In such a device the gas discharge takes place not between two opposing electrodes, but between two contiguous or adjacent electrodes on the same substrate; the gas being confined between the substrate and an outer retaining wall.

It is also feasible to have a gas discharge device wherein some of the conductive or electrode members are in direct contact with the gaseous medium and the remaining electrode members are appropriately insulated from such gas, i.e., at least one insulated electrode.

In addition to the matrix configuration, the conductor arrays may be shaped otherwise. Accordingly, while the preferred conductor arrangement is of the crossed grid type as discussed herein, it is likewise apparent that where a maximal variety of two dimensional display patterns is not necessary, as where specific standardized visual shapes (e.g., numerals, letters, words, etc.) are to be formed and image resolution is not critical, the conductors may be shaped accordingly, i.e., a segmented display.

The gas is one which produces visible light or invisible radiation which stimulates a phosphor (if visual display is an objective) and a copious supply of charges (ions and electrons) during discharge.

In prior art, a wide variety of gases and gas mixtures have been utilized as the gaseous medium in a gas discharge device. Typical of such gases include C0; C0 halogens; nitrogen; NI-I oxygen; water vapor; hydrogen; hydrocarbons; P 0 boron fluoride, acid fumes; TiCl Group VIII gases; air; H 0 vapors of sodium, mercury, thallium, cadmium, rubidium, and cesium; carbon disulfide, laughing gas; I-I S; deoxygenated air; phosphorus vapors; C l-I CH naphthalene vapor; anthracene; freon, ethyl alcohol; methylene bromide; heavy hydrogen; electron attaching gases; sulfur hexafluoride; tritium; radioactive gases; and the rare or inert gases.

In a preferred practice, the gaseous medium comprises at least one rare gas, more preferably at least two, selected from helium, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon. In an open cell Baker, et al. type panel, the gas pressure and the electric field are sufficient to laterally confine charges generated on discharge within elemental or discrete dielectric areas within the perimeter of such areas, especially in a panel containing non-isolated discharge cells. As described in the Baker, et al. patent, the space between the dielectric surfaces occupied by the gas is such as to permit photons generated on discharge in a selected discrete or elemental volume of gas to pass freely through the gas space and strike surface areas of dielectric remote from the selected discrete volumes, such remote, photon struck dielectric surface areas thereby emitting electrons so as to condition at least one elemental volume other than the elemental volume in which the photons originated.

With respect to the memory function of a given discharge panel, the allowable distance or spacing between the dielectric surfaces depends, inter alia, on the frequency of the alternating current supply, the distance typically being greater for lower frequencies.

While the prior art does disclose gaseous discharge devices having externally positioned electrodes for initiating a gaseous discharge, sometimes called electrodeless discharge," such prior art devices utilized frequencies and spacing or discharge volumes and operating pressures such that although discharges are initiated in the gaseous medium, such discharges are ineffective or not utilized for charge generation and storage at higher frequencies; although charge storage may be realized at lower frequencies, such charge storage has not been utilized in a display/memory device in the manner of the Bitzer-Slottow or Baker, et al. invention.

The term memory margin is defined herein as M. M. V V /Vfl where V, is the half amplitude of the smallest sustaining voltage signal which results in a discharge every half cycle, but at which the cell is not bistable and V is the half amplitude of the minimum applied voltage sufficient to sustain discharges once initiated.

It will be understood that the basic electrical phenomenon utilized in this invention is the generation of charges (ions and electrons) alternately storable at pairs of opposed or facing discrete points or areas on a pair of dielectric surfaces backed by conductors connected to a source of operating potential. Such stored charges result in an electrical field opposing the field produced by the applied potential that created them and hence operate to terminate ionization in the elemental gas volume between opposed or facing discrete points or areas of dielectric surface. The term sustain a discharge means producing a sequence of momentary discharges, at least one discharge for each half cycle of applied alternating sustaining voltage, once the elemental gas volume has been fired, to maintain alternate storing of charges at pairs of opposed discrete areas on the dielectric surfaces.

As used herein, a cell is in the on state" when a quantity of charge is stored in the cell such that on each half cycles of the sustaining voltage, a gaseous discharge is produced.

In addition to the sustaining voltage, other voltages may be utilized to operate the panel, such as firing, addressing, and writing voltages.

A firing voltage is any voltage, regardless of source, required to discharge a cell. Such voltage may be completely external in origin or may be comprised of internal cell wall voltage in combination with externally originated voltages.

An addressing voltage" is a voltage produced on the panel X Y electrode coordinates such that at the selected cell or cells, the total voltage applied across the cell is equal to or greater than the firing voltage whereby the cell is discharged.

A writing voltage is an addressing voltage of sufficient magnitude to make it probable that on subsequent sustaining voltage half cycles, the cell will be in the on state."

ln the operation of a multiple gaseous discharge device, of the type described hereinbefore, it is necessary to condition the discrete elemental gas volume of each discharge cell by supplying at least one free electron thereto such that a gaseous discharge can be initiated when the cell is addressed with an appropriate voltage signal.

The prior art has disclosed and practiced various means for conditioning gaseous discharge cells.

One such means of panel conditioning comprises a socalled electronic process whereby an electronic conditioning sign] or pulse is periodically applied to all of the panel discharge cells, as disclosed for example in British Pat. No. 1,161,832, page 8, lines 56 to 76. Reference is also made to US. Pat. No. 3,559,190 and The Device Characteristics of the Plasma Display Element" by Johnson, et al., IEEE Transactions On Electron Devices, September, l97l. However, electronic conditioning is self-conditioning and is only effective after a discharge cell has been previously conditioned; that is, electronic conditioning involves periodically discharging a cell and is therefore a way of maintaining the presence offree electrons. Accordingly, one cannot wait too long between the periodically applied conditioning pulses since there must be at least one free electron present in order to discharge and condition a cell.

Another conditioning method comprises the use of external radiation, such as flooding part or all of the gaseous medium of the panel with ultraviolet radiation. This external conditioning method has the obvious disadvantage that it is not always convenient or possible to provide external radiation to a panel, especially if the panel is in a remote position. Likewise, an external UV source requires auxiliary equipment. Accordingly, the use of internal conditioning is generally preferred.

One internal conditioning means comprises using internal radiation, such as by the inclusion of a radioactive material.

Another means of internal conditioning, which we call photon conditioning, comprises using one or more so-called pilot discharge cells in the on-state for the generation of photons. This is particularly effective in a so-called open cell construction (as described in the Baker, et al. patent) wherein the space between the dielectric surfaces occupied by the gas is such as to permit photons generated on discharge in a selected discrete or elemental volume of gas (discharge cell) to pass freely through the panel gas space so as to condition other and more remote elemental volumes of other discharge units. In addition to or in lieu of the pilot cells, one may use other sources of photons internal to the panel.

Internal photon conditioning may be unreliable when a given discharge unit to be addressed is remote in distance relative to the conditioning source, eg. the pilot cell. Accordingly, a multiplicity of pilot cells may be required for the conditioning of a panel having a large geometric area. In one highly convenient arrangement, the panel matrix border (perimter) is comprised of a plurality of such pilot cells.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the hereinafter discussed figures shown thereon.

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away plan view of a gaseous discharge display/memory panel as connected to a diagrammatically illustrated source of operating potentials.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (enlarged. but not to proportional scale since the thickness of the gas volume, dielectric members and conductor arrays have been enlarged for purposes of illustration) taken on lines 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 (enlarged, but not to proportional scale).

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a gaseous discharge display/memory panel.

The invention utilizes a pair of dielectric films 10 and 11 separated by a thin layer or volume of a gaseous discharge medium 12, the medium 12 producing a copious supply of charges (ions and electrons) which are alternately collectable on the surfaces of the dielectric members at opposed or facing elemental or discrete areas X and Y defined by the conductor matrix on nongas-contacting sides of the dielectric members, each dielectric member presenting large open surface areas and a plurality of pairs of elemental X and Y areas. While the electrically operative structural members such as the dielectric members 10 and 11 and conductor matrixes 13 and 14 are all relatively thin (being exaggerated in thickness in the drawings) they are formed on and supported by rigid nonconductive support members 16 and 17 respectively.

Preferably, one or both of nonconductive support members 16 and 17 pass light produced by discharge in the elemental gas volumes. Preferably, they are transparent glass members and these members essentially define the overall thickness and strength of the panel. For example, the thickness of gas layer 12 as determined by spacer 15 is usually under 10 mils and preferably about 4 to 6 mils, dielectric layers 10 and 11 (over the conductors at the elemental or discrete X and Y areas) are usually between 1 and 2 mils thick, and conductors 13 and 14 about 8,000 A. thick. However, support members 16 and 17 are much thicker (particularly in larger panels) so as to provide as much ruggedness as may be desired to compensate for stresses in the panel. Support members 16 and 17 also serve as heat sinks for heat generated by discharges and thus minimize the effect of temperature on operation of the device. If it is desired that only the memory function be utilized, then none of the members need be transparent to light.

Except for being nonconductive or good insulators the electrical properties of support members 16 and 17 are not critical. The main function of support members 16 and 17 is to provide mechanical support and strength for the entire panel, particularly with respect to pressure differential acting on the panel and thermal shock. As noted earlier, they should have thermal expansion characteristics substantially matching the thermal expansion characteristics of dielectric layers 10 and 11. Ordinary inch commercial grade soda lime plate glasses have been used for this purpose. Other glasses such as low expansion glasses or transparent devitrified glasses can be used provided they can withstand processing and have expansion characteristics substantially matching expansion characteristics of the dielectric coatings l and 11. For given pressure differentials and thickness of plates, the stress and deflection of plates may be determined by following standard stress and strain formulas (see R. J. Roark, Formulas for Stress and Strain, McGraw-Hill, 1954).

Spacer 15 may be made of the same glass material as dielectric films 10 and 11 and may be an integral rib formed on one of the dielectric members and fused to the other members to form a bakeable hermetic seal enclosing and confining the ionizable gas volume 12. However, a separate final hermetic seal may be effected by a high strength devitrified glass sealant 15S.

Tubulation 18 is provided for exhausting the space between dielectric members and 11 and filling that space with the volume of ionizable gas. For large panels small beadlike solder glass spacers such as shown at 158 may be located between conductor intersections and fused to dielectric members 10 and 11 to aid in withstanding stress on the panel and maintain uniformity of thickness of gas volume 12.

Conductor arrays 13 and 14 may be formed on support members 16 and 17 by a number of well-known processes, such as photoetching, vacuum deposition, stencil screening, etc. In the panel shown in FIG. 4, the center-to-center spacing of conductors in the respective arrays is about 17 mils. Transparent or semitransparent conductive material such as tin oxide, gold or aluminum can be used to form the conductor arrays and should have a resistance less than 3,000 ohns per line. Narrow opaque electrodes may alternately be used so that discharge light passes around the edges of the electrodes to the viewer. It is important to select a conductor material that is not attacked during processing by the dielectric material.

It will be appreciated that conductor arrays 13 and 14 may be wires or filaments of copper, gold, silver or aluminum or any other conductive metal or material. For example 1 mil wire filaments are commercially available and may be used in the invention. However, formed in situ conductor arrays are preferred since they may be more easily and uniformly placed on and adhered to the support plates 16 and 17.

Dielectric layer members 10 and 11 are formed of an inorganic material and are preferably formed in situ as an adherent film or coating which is not chemically or physically effected during bake-out of the panel. One such material is a solder glass such as Kimble SG-68 manufactured by and commercially available from the assignee of the present invention.

This glass has thermal expansion characteristics substantially matching the thermal expansion characteristics of certain soda-lime glasses, and can be used as the dielectric layer when the support members 16 and 17 are soda-lime glass plates. Dielectric layers 10 and 11 must be smooth and have a dielectric strength of about 1,000 v. and be electrically homogeneous on a microscopic scale (e.g., no cracks, bubbles, crystals, dirt, surface films, etc.). In addition, the surfaces of dielectric layers 10 and 11 should be good photoemitters of electrons in a baked out condition. Alternatively, dielectric layers 10 and 11 may be overcoated with materials designed to produce good electron emission, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,634,719, issued to Roger E. Ernsthausen. Of course, for an optical display at least one of dielectric layers 10 and 11 should pass light generated on discharge and be transparent or translucent and, preferably, both layers are optically transparent.

The preferred spacing between surfaces of the dielectric films is about 3 to 6 mils with conductor arrays 13 and 14 having center-to-center spacing of about 17 mils.

The ends of conductors 14-1 14-4 and support member 17 extend beyond the enclosed gas volume 12 and are exposed for the purpose of making electrical connection to interface and addressing circuitry 19. Likewise, the ends of conductors 13-1 13-4 on support member 16 extend beyond the enclosed gas volume l2 and are exposed for the purpose of making electrical connection to interface and addressing circuitry 19.

As in known display systems, the interface and addressing circuitry or system 19 may be relatively inexpensive line scan systems or the somewhat more expensive high speed random access systems. In either case, it is to be noted that a lower amplitude or operating potentials helps to reduce problems associated with the interface circuitry between the addressing system and the display/memory panel, per se. Thus, by providing a panel having greater uniformity in the discharge characteristics throughout the panel, tolerances and operating characteristics of the panel with which the interfacing circuitry cooperate, are made less rigid.

In accordance with this invention, it has been surprisingly discovered that the operating voltage magnitude of a gaseous discharge device is substantially decreased by utilizing a charge storage member with a gas medium contact surface consisting of magnesium oxide. More particularly, the gas medium contacting surface of each dielectric consists of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased gaseous discharge panel operating voltages.

As used herein the gas medium contacting surface is that portion of the dielectric charge storage member which is in direct contact with the ionizable gas medium. Although it is not known whether the charges are stored on the gas contacting surface or sub-surface of the dielectric, the charges at least originate at such surface.

ln one embodiment the entire dielectric body consists of magnesium oxide.

ln another embodiment a continuous or discontinuous layer or film of magnesium oxide is applied to the gaseous medium contacting surface portion of the dielectric body.

ln such latter embodiment, the oxide layer may be formed in situ on the dielectric surface, e.g., by applying the elemental magnesium metal (or a source thereof) to the dielectric surface followed by oxidation. One such in situ process comprises applying a melt to the dielectric followed by oxidation of the melt during the cooling thereof so as to form the oxide layer. Another in situ process comprises applying an oxidizable source of the magnesium element to the surface. Typical of such oxidizable sources include minerals and/or compounds containing the magnesium element, especially organic compounds which are readily heat decomposed or pyrolyzed.

Typically, the magnesium oxide layer (or a source thereof) is applied directly to the dielectric surface by any convenient means including not by way of limitation vapor deposition; vacuum deposition; chemical vapor deposition; wet spraying upon the surface a mixture or solution of the oxide suspended or dissolved in a liquid followed by evaporation of the liquid; dry spraying of the oxide upon the surface; electron beam evaporation; plasma flame and/or arc spraying and/or deposition; and sputtering target techniques.

The magnesium oxide is applied to (or formed in situ on) the dielectric surface as a very thin continuous or discontinuous film or layer, the thickness and amount of the oxide layer being sufficient to substantially decrease the panel operating voltages. In the usual practice hereof, the oxide layer is applied to or formed on the dielecrric material surface to a thickness of at least about dielectric 200 A. with a range of about 200 A. up to about 1 micron (10,000 A.). When the entire dielectric consists of magnesium oxide, the dielectric magnesium oxide thickness may range up to 25 microns or more.

As used herein, the terms film" or *layer are intended to be all inclusive of other similar terms such as deposit, coating, finish, spread, covering, etc.

in the fabrication of a gaseous discharge panel, the dielectric material is typically applied to and cured on the surface of a supporting glass substrate or base to which the electrode or conductor elements have been previously applied. The glass substrate may be of any suitable composition such as a soda lime glass composition. In a Baker, et al. device two glass substrates containing electrodes and cured dielectric are then appropriately heat sealed together so as to form a panel.

In the preferred practice of this invention, the magnesium oxide layer is applied to the surface of the cured dielectric before the panel heat sealing cycle.

The practice of this invention may be especially beneficial after appropriate aging of the device. Device aging is defined as the accumulated total operating time for the device. ln a typical panel, 50 to hours of panel aging is about standard.

In order to achieve maximum results as represented by decreased operating voltages, the magnesium oxide layer is continuously or discontinuously applied to the gaseous medium contacting surface of the dielectric. In other words, the applied magnesium oxide layer must be directly exposed to the gaseous medium in order to achieve the desired results.

Other metal or metalloid oxide layers may exist below that of the magnesium oxide layer. Such sublayers may be of any suitable oxide of the periodic table, especially aluminum oxide, silicon oxide and the rare earth oxides. Also as already noted hereinbefore. another embodiment of this invention comprises using a dielectric which consists of magnesium oxide.

The following examples are intended to illustrate one of the best embodiments contemplated by the inventor in the practice of this invention.

EXAMPLE I A layer of magnesium oxide was deposited to a relatively uniform thickness of about l,000 A. on the respective exposed surfaces of two cured dielectric material layers, each dielectric layer having been previously applied and cured onto (electrodes containing) glass substrates.

The magnesium oxide was deposited by means of an electron beam evaporation technique. The dielectric composition was a lead borosilicate consisting of 73.3 percent by weight PbO, 13.4 percent by weight B 0 and 13.3 percent by weight SiO The glass substrates were of a soda lime composition containing about 73 percent by weight SiO about 13 percent by weight Na o, about 10 percent be weight CaO, about 3 percent by weight MgO, about l percent by weight A1 0 and small amounts (less than 1 percent) of Fe o K 0. A5 0,, and Cr O The electrode lines or conductor arrays were of gold.

The two substrates were heat sealed together (using a standard solder glass) so as to form a gaseous discharge panel of the open cell Baker, et al. kind. After an appropriate vacuum process, the panel was tilled with an inert ionizable gas consisting of 99.9 percent atoms of neon and 0.1 percent atoms of argon at a pressure of about 600 Torr. The magnitude of the dynamic sustaining voltage for the gaseous discharge panel after aging for about hours was about 120 volts. After aging of the panel for over 100 hours, the dynamic sustaining voltage dropped to about 90 volts.

EXAMPLE II The panel fabrication of Example I was repeated using no oxide layer on the dielectric. The panel required about 100 hours of aging before the dynamic sustaining voltage leveled off at a magnitude of about 140 volts.

The foregoing examples illustrate that when a layer of magnesium oxide is applied to the dielectric surface as in Example I, the operating voltage for the resulting fabricated gaseous discharge panel is substantially decreased; e.g., in comparison with Example II where no oxide layer was used.

We claim:

1. In a gaseous discharge device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium and at least one dielectric charg storage member in contact with the gaseous medium and at least one electrode insulated from the gaseous medium by a dielectric member, the improvement wherein the gaseous medium contacting portion of the dielectric member consists of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the discharge device.

2. The invention of claim I wherein the dielectric member consists of magnesium oxide.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the dielectric member is coated with a layer of magnesium oxide.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is continuous.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is discontinuous.

6. In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric gaseous medium contacting surfaces and at least one electrode insulated from the gaseous medium by each dielectric member, the improvement wherein each dielectric surface consists of magnesium oxide in an amount suffi cient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein each dielectric gaseous medium contacting surface consists of a magnesium oxide layer applied to a dielectric base material.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A.

10. In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material gaseous medium contacting surfaces backed by electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material surface being oriented with respect to the electrode material members behind the opposing dielectric material surface so as to define a plurality of discharge units, the improvement wherein a layer of magnesium oxide is applied to each opposed dielectric material surface in an amount sufficient to decrease the operating voltages of the device.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

12. The invention of claim 10 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 angstrom units up to about 10,000 A.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gaseous discharge display/memory device. said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a deposit of magnesium oxide in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages in the gaseous discharge device.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit is at least about 200 A.

15. The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.

16. In the method of operating a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises substantially decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material with a layer ofmagnesium oxide.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member is at least about 200 A.

18. The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.

19. A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced-apart nonconductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of crosspoints therebetween, and a dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and over the conductor arrays for defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, the surface of each of said dielectric material coating including a further coating of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A. 

1. IN A GAESOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE COMPRISING AN IONIZABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM AND AT LEAST ONE DIELECTRIC CHARG STORAGE MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH THE GASEOUS MEDIUM AND AT LEAST ONE ELECTRODE INSULATED FROM THE GASEOUS MEDIUM BY A DIELECTRIC MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN THE GASEOUS MEDIUM CONTACTING PORTION OF THE DIELECTRIC MEMBER CONSISTS OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASE THE OPERATING VOLTAGES OF THE DISCHARGE DEVICE.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the dielectric member consists of magnesium oxide.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the dielectric member is coated with a layer of magnesium oxide.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is continuous.
 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is discontinuous.
 6. In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric gaseous medium contacting surfaces and at least one electrode insulated from the gaseous medium by each dielectric member, the inprovement wherein each dielectric surface consists of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein each dielectric gaseous medium contacting surface consists of a magnesium oxide layer applied to a dielectric base material.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.
 9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A.
 10. In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material gaseous medium contacting surfaces backed by electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material surface being oriented with respect to the electrode material members behind the opposing dielectric material surface so as to define a plurality of discharge units, the improvement wherein a layer of magnesium oxide is applied to each opposed dielectric material surface in an amount sufficient to decrease the operating voltages of the device.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.
 12. The invention of claim 10 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 angstrom units up to about 10,000 A.
 13. An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gaseous discharge display/memory device, said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a deposit of magnesium oxide in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages in the gaseous discharge device.
 14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit is at least about 200 A.
 15. The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.
 16. In the method of operating a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises substantially decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material with a layer of magnesium oxide.
 17. The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member is at least about 200 A.
 18. The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.
 19. A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced-apart non-conductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, and a dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and over the conductor arrays for defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, the surface of each of said dielectric material coating including a further coating of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages.
 20. The invention of claim 19 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.
 21. The invention of claim 20 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A. 